Top 10 Winter Athletes: Part I

The winter sports season has drawn to a close and spring sports start up in just a few weeks. But before the weather warms up and we get to baseball and lacrosse, let's take a look back at the top athletes from the winter season.

Today's story is part I of a two-part series and will feature the athletes ranked 6-10. Be sure to come back on Wednesday when we unveil the top five athletes!

10. Brian O'Gorman: At 6-foot-10, it’s easy to see why the senior was a major factor in the Kennedy Cougars basketball season. The towering senior used his size to throw opponents off all season long.

O’Gorman posted a triple-double in the first round of the playoffs, but not of the traditional points-rebounds-assists variety. Instead, he put up 11 points, 10 rebounds and a jaw-dropping 12 blocked shot to lead the Cougars past MacArthur in the first round.

9. Jacob Smart: The Bellmore-Merrick Bulldogs had a tremendous season, and most of that was in large part to their goaltender, Smart, who stood on his head for the Bulldogs several times this season.

The junior had a 15-2 record during the regular season and 11 games where he allowed two goals or less. He made 17 saves in a 7-1 win against Wantagh-Seaford back in December before leaving the game with cut on his hand from a skate blade.

8. Kyle Wechsler: The Mepham Pirates boys basketball team did not have the best of seasons, but that didn't stop Wechsler from being consistently dominant at the point guard slot all year.

The junior guard led his team in scoring in 10 of the Pirates’ 17 games. He dropped 20 points in a loss to Seaford in December.

7. Allen West: The Bellmore-Merrick Bulldogs went 18-2 during the regular season and defeated Syosset in the first round of the playoffs before being swept by Massapequa in the county finals. Bellmore-Merrick had a number of weapons, but West's play on the team's second line gave the Bulldogs a ton of depth.

West had several big games for the Bulldogs this season, including a four-point performance in an 8-2 win against Syosset late in the season.

6. Nicole Castaldo: The Mepham Lady Pirates girls basketball team finished 12-2 during the regular season en route to winning the Conference AA-III title. Castaldo, who is only a sophomore at Mepham, was the team's leading rebounder and second leading scorer.

Castaldo finished among the top 15 rebounds on Long Island. She scored 18 points, while grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out five assists in a win against Long Beach earlier this month.